2006 Firefighter Championships: Firefighting and fireworks

Published: 21st October 2006

Despite the blustery conditions, more than 200 people turned out to watch a firefighting and rescue display in central Port Macquarie on Saturday 21 October. The crew from Wauchope Fire Station demonstrated how firefighters rescue people trapped in cars after an accident. The firefighters stabilised the car and to the delight of the crowd cut off the doors and roof using hydraulic equipment including the "jaws of life" and hydraulic spreaders. A mock victim was extracted safe and sound.

Just as the firefighters rescued the person trapped in the car they received an emergency call to a (mock) hazardous material incident on the Port Macquarie pier. This time the crew from Port Macquarie responded and found bright orange powder pouring out of a drum and into the water. Wearing air-sets and dressed in fully encapsulated suits, two firefighters approached the smoking drum and sealed it in a hazardous materials bin. A boom was set up in the water by the volunteer Sea Rescue Association to ensure the powder did not impact the waterway. The crew set up a decontamination shower next to the pier to make sure the firefighters were not carrying trace elements of hazardous materials.

The crowd were entertained by the NSWFB Marching Band and Precision Drill Marching Team. The band played something for everyone and had people young and old dancing in the streets.

The grand finale for the day was a torchlight parade through the streets of Port Macquarie. Led by the NSWFB band, more than 400 firefighters carrying flaming torches marched to Town Beach Reserve to put on firefighting demonstrations for more than 2000 spectators. The Kitchen Fat Fire Simulator, hazmat demonstration, a gas fire which exploded, and hose demonstrations wowed the crowd. As soon as the sun was down a spectacular fireworks display lit up the night skies, with residents, tourists and firefighters and their families enjoying the show.